Tag: Home

Home renovations are big business these days, likely fuelled by television shows and magazines that show homeowners how they too can change their homes. If you are looking to add space or increase your home’s worth there are five renovations that you should consider, as not all improvements will lead to a larger payout when you go to sell.

The most popular home renovation is the addition of an income suite, that is, a stand alone apartment, usually in the basement of a home. Construction of a one or two bedroom unit complete with bathroom and kitchen can fetch some serious money when you go to rent it out and this can be applied to your mortgage, reducing it or even eradicating it entirely. Best of all, having an income suite means that your home is cash flow positive, which is great for you as well as any future buyer.

It has been said time and again that the kitchen and bathroom are the most important rooms in your house when you are looking to entice potential buyers. They can be the most expensive rooms to renovate, but an updated and modern kitchen and bathroom can add profit and give potential buyers that all important wow factor.

In the kitchen a renovation can include a full gutting and starting from scratch or can simply be replacing the cabinets, fixtures and countertops. Adding an island, increasing the size of the room itself and adding a breakfast nook are all other things that can go into a kitchen renovation. Likewise, a bathroom may just need to be taken back to the studs and redone completely, or a new bathtub, bathtub surround or a new vanity may do the trick.

The fourth most popular renovation is fixtures. That is, you change out simple things like taps, countertops, switch plates, faucets, lighting and toilets to upgrade your space and make it more energy efficient. Small improvements can go a long way in making your space more desirable.

The fifth best renovation to tackle is the floors. Nothing says durability and sophistication like hardwood flooring, but there are many other options on the market like bamboo, cork and tile that also modernize your space.

The key to any good home renovation is that is makes your home look fresh and updated without going overboard and pricing yourself out of the housing market. When in doubt call in the experts who will have all the home renovation answers that you are looking for!

Have you been saving up for a home improvement project but don’t know where to start? A bathroom remodeling plan might be the best way to begin thinking creatively about how to best utilize a small yet essential space in your home. While it could take years of investment and construction to update your entire home to suit your aesthetic and functional needs, just a few updates to your bathroom can make an immediate difference on a realistic budget and timeline.

While some of us might be satisfied with the simplest arrangement – a toilet, bath, sink, and mirror – there’s always potential for so much more. After all, this is the site of your morning routine and your before-bed rituals. Why not make the investment to create a relaxing, functional, and visually appealing space? You have thousands of options when it comes to selecting colors, textures, and fixtures, and your bathroom remodeling project is a fantastic way to take control of the place you inhabit.

When you begin upgrading your space, you should first decide whether you’ll want to go for a total refit (pull out all the existing fixtures and installations and start fresh), or begin with a few upgrades to your existing space and setup. A full bathroom remodeling project gives you the opportunity to totally rethink how you’re using the room, and a complete rebuild allows for maximizing shelving and storage space and making cleaning easier and more efficient. You’ll also want to consider making changes to lighting and ventilation. A window or skylight can add a welcome touch of natural warmth to a space that normally feels small and enclosed, and some basic electrical and duct work can do wonders to fight the mold and mildew that naturally begin to grow if you do not keep the room dry.

You’ll also want to consider what sorts of materials would look best with the existing aesthetic of your home and the statement you’re trying to make. It has never been easier to take advantage of the wide range of styles and designs available to homeowners, so take some time to think about the overall image you’re going for. Perhaps your style is a minimalist modern look punctuated by glass and stainless steel fixtures, or the classic touches of porcelain and a variety of textured fabrics. Your favorite design blogs or magazines can be a great place to start thinking about your options, and your contractor may be able to help you consider the best bets for your budget. You may even be surprised by some of the choices available to you, from walk-in showers with sophisticated drainage systems to state-of-the-art commodes that could even save money in the long run due to energy-efficient design.

Best of luck with your renovations!

Tired of repainting your house every 5 to 10 years? Vinyl siding may just be the right solution that you have been searching for. This type of siding will usually entail a lower cost upfront as compared to conventional siding such as a traditional cedar siding. Some may believe this exterior finish looks plastic in appearance, but many siding manufacturers have made great strides to give the product a more painted ‘wood like appearance’ with grain accents and a lower gloss finish.

Over one-third of home exteriors in the US have this siding. When choosing exterior cladding, a budget friendly solution that is aesthetically appealing is what most homeowners look for. Past concerns with vinyl siding including yellowing, fading, rigidity and warping. Thanks to titanium oxide and other innovations, this siding is manufactured to resist weathering and maintain a fresh appearance over extended periods of time. Low maintenance exteriors on a home are also typically desired by most homeowners. Vinyl siding offers a piece of mind and is easy on the pocketbook. Let’s look at some of the various ins and outs of this exterior finish.

Color, Appearance & Other Options

In the past, vinyl siding was passed over because of the color fade over time. However, most siding manufactured today shows limited fading over the years. Another advantage of vinyl siding is the full range of color choices available. The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) has certified over 300 colors of vinyl for colorfastness. There are quite a few options available for this siding including fish-scale shingles, simulated wood grain, smooth panels and the list goes on. Different sizes in siding is also possible with the most common being 3, 5 or 8 inches.

The Elements

This type of siding can withstand sub-zero winter temperatures up to the hottest of summers. It is also built to withstand high winds and hail.

Installation

A unique advantage of vinyl is that it can be installed over nearly any type of surface. Even over stucco or brick. Vinyl siding isn’t for every home as it may not match the character and style. And, not all siding installers are created equal. The majority of siding companies offer comparable products, whereas the installer’s craftsmanship will vary much more. Because this type of siding expands and contracts more than other conventional siding materials, the more knowledgeable the installer is with this siding the better.

Maintenance

While vinyl siding does offer low maintenance, it may not be entirely maintenance free. Homeowners won’t need to paint or stain it like traditional wood siding, but the cleaning of the vinyl may need to be done to mitigate any grime or mold build-up. Simply scrubbing or power washing the siding will go a long way in giving it new life and maintaining it for years to come. If fading of the siding does occur, a coat of exterior latex paint can be applied (as major paint manufacturers have exterior paint products specifically designed for this type of siding). And, vinyl does have the ability to hide potential problems. When a house is sided with wood, the paint may chip or peel away when there is a problem.

Vinyl siding can be used in a variety of exterior home applications. This type of siding offers durability and often comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. According to the VSI, vinyl offers the lowest installation cost of all types of home siding. Whether it’s new construction or updating an existing home, vinyl siding offers a cost efficient and low maintenance alternative to homeowners. In most cases, vinyl siding will have a positive effect on the home value.

Many home buyers run into serious spatial concerns just five to seven years after having moved into their new homes. Families grow and change. Houses, however, do not. If this sounds familiar, you may want to renovate your property, rather than selling it and searching for a new one.

With a renovation project, you can expand your current abode or radically alter its interior design in order to free up space. For instance, your project may be as simple as knocking down a few interior walls in order to create larger and more open spaces. This type of interior layout can be far more flexible in terms of meeting the needs of growing households than are those that have been sectioned off.

Some households opt to add in-law units to their properties. These sit on the same tract of land but they are entirely separate from the original structures. If you have an aging relative or a college-age child living in your home, this is a great way to give your loved one more space while still living in the same basic area. Units like these can also be rented out in the future for additional income.

Before beginning these efforts, you should determine your budget and decide how you will fund this project. Some families may need to implement these projects in affordable stages. This allows them to pay for various improvements as the funding becomes available. Keep in mind that you do not need a tremendous amount of money to make impressive changes at home. You may even find that these efforts can be a lot cheaper than trying to upgrade to a bigger property by simply selling your current house.

There are many builders who may be willing to accept retention payments. Retention payments allow you to remit funding for each phase of a project right after the last phase has been completed and approved. It gives you the chance to verify that the workmanship is up to your standards, while giving you a longer period of time to cover the full costs of these endeavors.

If you have additional goals aside from creating more usable space, you should define these before you start shopping around for a builder. For instance, you may want to make your home more energy efficient or more aesthetically pleasing. Knowing what you want in advance of starting is key for choosing the right contractors and building materials.

Determine whether or not it will be possible to earn any credits or rebates by altering your design. Adding on solar panels or increasing water efficiency is one way to qualify for special government grants. Anything that you do to protect or improve the local environment could lead to the award of funding that you can use to offset other aspects of your improvement project.

Start screening local custom home design companies to find the right professionals to head your renovation up. Look for builders that are aligned with reputable supply companies and who are willing to stand behind their work. You can find a lot of reputable builders online, many of which have comprehensive image galleries that host photos of their past renovation projects.

Not all home remodeling projects will do your house good. Here are some home improvement myths you probably believed until today.

1. Customized Features

Many believe that adding personal touches to their house will help in raising their home’s market value. Unfortunately, this is not the case for any home. Not everyone likes a cowboy-hat shaped pool, but most homeowners would like a pool (if they can afford its maintenance and creation). Before you venture adding personal touches to your home, make sure that there’s a demand for it, as is with selling anything in today’s market.

2. All I Need for a Project is Myself, Some Tools and the Internet

It’s always costly to hire a contractor, you might say. It’s easier and I could add some personal touches to my house if I do it on my own. That’s what most homeowners with DIY projects that ended up in tragedy said the first day. Contractors are paid top dollar because of their experience and knowledge in the field. What do you have against a contractor who had built an entire village in his or her lifetime? None at all.

3. Design Trends Will Sell My Home

Not quite. Chances are your house will receive great attention in the market for at least a year. Once the trend changes, your house will be left to little markets yet again. It is far more important to focus on making timeless home designs that appeal to a broad range of home buyers. Adding a garden or using neutral colors in your home helps it become pleasing to the eye as a canvas for home buyers. However, be aware that some home buyers may not be capable of instantly visualizing their home, so add something that can give them ideas too.

4. Renewable Energy

Renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, windmills and geothermal plants help your home earn great tax deductibles per state because it reduces pollution. However, not every homeowner is willing to shell out a few more thousand dollars to ensure they have a tax-deductible home that saves them monthly bills. If you really want to sell your house, give them the option to opt out of your renewable energy technologies.

5. Higher Quality Materials Will Guarantee Home buyers

Again, not quite. Home buyers are looking for something worth their money and practical. Focus on practical. Using high quality material will ensure the house is sturdy, but you cannot justify that paying $100 for every board in the house must increase the value of your home. Demand will be the only metric you have to measure home demand, never the material used for home buying.

6. Paint Doesn’t Solve Everything

Some homeowners who couldn’t afford to do repairs will use paint in every bad area the house has. Paint actually violates some disclosure laws for house selling in many states. You would also incur an additional bill on top of home buyer demands that you make repairs on the house you just sold. No cheating!

7. Garages Into Living Rooms Can Add Interest

It actually doesn’t. Garages turned into living rooms could turn off many home buyers, especially those who own vehicles, which are a majority in this country. If you intend to do this project, make sure that you could return the garage to its true functioning form at any time.

8. An Additional Square Foot

Adding on top of another floor will never be an attractive offer for home buyers. Sure, it adds value to your home. However, if it’s a rush job, it’s sub-par to your house’s structural integrity and living quality. Also, it may be useless for many home buyers.